Former Labor leader Bill Shorten will announce his retirement from politics

Mr Shorten led the Australian Labor Party from 2013 to 2019 and has served as the MP for the Melbourne electorate of Maribyrnong since 2007.

He was appointed to the ministry during Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard’s government, before winning the role of opposition leader.

But when the Liberals took a surprise victory in the 2019 election, Mr Shorten stepped back and Anthony Albanese took on the mantle.

He returned to cabinet as the National Disability Insurance Scheme and government services minister after Labor won the 2022 federal election.

Prior to his career in politics, the former Labor leader was a prolific union figure, having been elected as the Australian Workers’ Union’s Victorian state secretary and later national secretary.

This post was originally published on Michael West.